Tag Archives: Passion Play

Yesterday was filled with fairy tale castles, passion and not-so-great food… But when opportunities like the one I had roll around, I’m willing to compromise.

The day started off on a high-note with round two of OIAJ.

Yet another perk of making cookies was that I reached the end of another jar of peanut butter. I decided to top this batch with a fresh peach and my trademark sprinkle of cinnamon. Simple, yet oh-so delicious.

(Note: I don’t know who “Mike Mitchell” is, but I definitely have to thank him for his help with my delicious breakfast this morning.)

Having been on an unintentional oat-fast for the past six weeks, I had forgotten just how filling they are. It was a good thing, too, because I needed every bit of that energy to make it through the long day I had ahead.

First stop of the day was the Neuschwanstein Castle in Oberbayern.

We were offered the option of the safer, less-strenuous “winter route” or the gorge-winding, breath-taking “summer path.”

One guess on which route I chose…

As if the view along the way wasn’t worth it, the destination at the top certainly was.

Neuschwanstein was built in the last 19th Century by König Ludwig II, or “The Mad Prince of Bavaria.”

Ludwig II was funding the castle with his personal funds, but when he died under suspicious circumstances, the construction came to a halt. Today, only a third of the rooms are completed.

Even with the majority of the castle left unfinished, Neuschwanstein it as still a remarkable example of architecture and ostentation.

Fun fact: Even Walt Disney was impressed by Neuschwanstein and used it as inspiration for the “Cinderella Castle” in Disney World.

After a brief tour of the completed rooms, I booked it up to a nearby bridge to get a better view and decided I wouldn’t mind living there. I’d even be willing to deal with the uncompleted third of rooms.

The castle was just the beginning of the day, though. Afterward, we drove to Oberammergau to watch the “Passion Play.” All six hours of it…

Since 1634, Oberammergau has been putting on the show every ten years (meaning it’s only been shown one other time during my life). About half of the residents of Oberammergau come together to bring to produce the play.

Coincidentally, this happened to be the year the play was showing, and my professor claimed we couldn’t miss it.

I was less-than enthusiastic about the prospect of a quarter-of-a-day-long play, but I was willing to give it a shot.

It turned out to be a truly wonderful, moving production that demonstrated the best in dedication to the Lord.

Although I wasn’t able to follow the translation word-for-word, I was really moved to be there and have such a unique experience. I fully recommend it to anyone who happens to be in Germany in 2020.

The show ran from 2:30 until 11:30, with a two-hour dinner break. Suffice it to say that I resorted to a little caffeine…

The “Cola Light” was just enough to keep me going through the play, but I was out the moment my head hit the pillow around 1 a.m.